Anderson beats Querrey in last eight to spoil American party

Kevin Anderson returns a shot against Sam Querrey during their Men's Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Nine of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighbourhood of the Queens borough of New York City. AFP

NEW YORK: Kevin Anderson spoiled the American party at the US Open when the big-serving South African beat local favourite Sam Querrey 7-6(5) 6-7(9) 6-3 7-6(7) to reach his first grand slam semi-final on Tuesday.

Anderson’s win ended the US presence in the men’s draw while Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams have both qualified for the last four in the women’s draw.

The 17th-seeded Querrey can blame himself for a meltdown in the first set tiebreak, where he lost five points in a row to allow Anderson into the lead under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“This is incredible, at this stage and playing on one of the most famous courts in the world, it feels absolutely fantastic,” said Anderson, who became the first South African player to reach the last four of the US Open since tennis turned professional in 1968.

“Losing the second set was really tough but I played each point at a time and it paid big dividends for me today.”

The two big servers could not manage a break in the opening set and Querrey, who was hoping to be the first American male to make it to the last four here since Andy Roddick in 2006, moved 5-2 up in the tiebreaker but Anderson then played more freely and won five points in a row to take the lead.

There was an early exchange of breaks in the second set with Querrey opening a 6-1 lead in the tiebreak before suffering another meltdown and finding himself trailing 8-7.

This time, however, the 17th seed regrouped and equalised on his eighth set point when Anderson returned long, triggering a huge roar from the crowd.

But the stands gradually cleared up as the match was sent deep into the night.

Anderson got a decisive break in the sixth game of the third set as Querrey struggled with his first serve and the South African held twice, finishing it off with a forehand winner down the line to lead two sets to one.

The fourth set was tightly contested again and went into another tiebreak.

Querrey saved a first match point with an ace at 6-5, set up a set point at 7-6, which Anderson staved off by forcing his opponent to slice a backhand into the net.

The second match point was good enough for Anderson, who dominated the rally until Querrey’s forehand sailed long. --REUTERS